Cross-Subtype Neutralizing Antibodies Induced in Baboons by a Subtype E gp120 Immunogen Based on an R5 Primary Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope

ABSTRACT Global human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) diversity may require engineering vaccines to express antigens representing strains prevalent in the target population of vaccine testing. The majority (90%) of incident infections in Thailand are genetic subtype E, with a small percentage of subtype B infections in the intravenous drug user populations. We have evaluated and compared the binding and HIV-1 neutralizing properties of serum antibodies induced in baboons by CHO cell-expressed monomeric gp120 derived from a CCR5-using (R5) subtype E primary HIV-1CM235 or a CXCR4-using (X4) subtype B T-cell line-adapted (TCLA) HIV-1SF2 isolate. In contrast to the subtype-specific HIV-1 neutralizing antibodies induced with recombinant HIV-1SF2 gp120 (rgp120SF2), rgp120CM235 immunization induced antibodies capable of neutralizing both subtype E and subtype B TCLA HIV-1 isolates. However, neither immunogen induced antibodies capable of neutralizing primary HIV-1 isolates. Antibody induced by rgp120CM235 preferentially bound natively folded gp120 and retained strong cross-reactivity against multiple gp120 strains within subtype E as well as subtype B. In contrast, antibody responses to rgp120SF2 were directed predominantly to linear epitopes poorly exposed on native gp120 and had more limited cross-recognition of divergent gp120. Fine epitope mapping revealed differences in antibody specificities. While both rgp120CM235 and rgp120SF2 induced antibodies to regions within C1, V1/V2, V3, and C5, unique responses were induced by rgp120CM235 to multiple epitopes within C2 and by rgp120SF2 to multiple epitopes within C3, V4, and C4. These data demonstrate that strain and/or phenotypic differences of HIV-1 subunit gp120 immunogens can substantially alter antibody binding specificities and subsequent HIV-1 neutralizing capacity.

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Profiling the Specificity of Neutralizing Antibodies in a Large Panel of Plasmas from Patients Chronically Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtypes B and C

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01762-08 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 82 (23) ◽

pp. 11651-11668 ◽

Cited By ~ 265

Author(s):

James M. Binley ◽

Elizabeth A. Lybarger ◽

Emma T. Crooks ◽

Michael S. Seaman ◽

Elin Gray ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Neutralizing Activity ◽

Subtype B ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Identifying the viral epitopes targeted by broad neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) that sometimes develop in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1)-infected subjects should assist in the design of vaccines to elicit similar responses. Here, we investigated the activities of a panel of 24 broadly neutralizing plasmas from subtype B- and C-infected donors using a series of complementary mapping methods, focusing mostly on JR-FL as a prototype subtype B primary isolate. Adsorption with gp120 immobilized on beads revealed that an often large but variable fraction of plasma neutralization was directed to gp120 and that in some cases, neutralization was largely mediated by CD4 binding site (CD4bs) Abs. The results of a native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis assay using JR-FL trimers further suggested that half of the subtype B and a smaller fraction of subtype C plasmas contained a significant proportion of NAbs directed to the CD4bs. Anti-gp41 neutralizing activity was detected in several plasmas of both subtypes, but in all but one case, constituted only a minor fraction of the overall neutralization activity. Assessment of the activities of the subtype B plasmas against chimeric HIV-2 viruses bearing various fragments of the membrane proximal external region (MPER) of HIV-1 gp41 revealed mixed patterns, implying that MPER neutralization was not dominated by any single specificity akin to known MPER-specific monoclonal Abs. V3 and 2G12-like NAbs appeared to make little or no contribution to JR-FL neutralization titers. Overall, we observed significant titers of anti-CD4bs NAbs in several plasmas, but approximately two-thirds of the neutralizing activity remained undefined, suggesting the existence of NAbs with specificities unlike any characterized to date.

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 env Clones from Acute and Early Subtype B Infections for Standardized Assessments of Vaccine-Elicited Neutralizing Antibodies

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.79.16.10108-10125.2005 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 79 (16) ◽

pp. 10108-10125 ◽

Cited By ~ 860

Author(s):

Ming Li ◽

Feng Gao ◽

John R. Mascola ◽

Leonidas Stamatatos ◽

Victoria R. Polonis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Vaccine Development ◽

Standardized Assessments ◽

Subtype B ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT Induction of broadly cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies is a high priority for AIDS vaccine development but one that has proven difficult to be achieved. While most immunogens generate antibodies that neutralize a subset of T-cell-line-adapted strains of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), none so far have generated a potent, broadly cross-reactive response against primary isolates of the virus. Even small increments in immunogen improvement leading to increases in neutralizing antibody titers and cross-neutralizing activity would accelerate vaccine development; however, a lack of uniformity in target strains used by different investigators to assess cross-neutralization has made the comparison of vaccine-induced antibody responses difficult. Thus, there is an urgent need to establish standard panels of HIV-1 reference strains for wide distribution. To facilitate this, full-length gp160 genes were cloned from acute and early subtype B infections and characterized for use as reference reagents to assess neutralizing antibodies against clade B HIV-1. Individual gp160 clones were screened for infectivity as Env-pseudotyped viruses in a luciferase reporter gene assay in JC53-BL (TZM-bl) cells. Functional env clones were sequenced and their neutralization phenotypes characterized by using soluble CD4, monoclonal antibodies, and serum samples from infected individuals and noninfected recipients of a recombinant gp120 vaccine. Env clones from 12 R5 primary HIV-1 isolates were selected that were not unusually sensitive or resistant to neutralization and comprised a wide spectrum of genetic, antigenic, and geographic diversity. These reference reagents will facilitate proficiency testing and other validation efforts aimed at improving assay performance across laboratories and can be used for standardized assessments of vaccine-elicited neutralizing antibodies.

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Susceptibility of Recently Transmitted Subtype B Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Variants to Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02816-06 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 81 (16) ◽

pp. 8533-8542 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Esther D. Quakkelaar ◽

Floris P. J. van Alphen ◽

Brigitte D. M. Boeser-Nunnink ◽

Ad C. van Nuenen ◽

Ralph Pantophlet ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Broadly Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralization Sensitivity ◽

Subtype B ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The ability of the broadly neutralizing human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) specific human monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) b12, 2G12, 2F5, and 4E10 to neutralize recently transmitted viruses has not yet been explored in detail. We investigated the neutralization sensitivity of subtype B HIV-1 variants obtained from four primary HIV infection cases and six transmission couples (four homosexual and two parenteral) to these MAbs. Sexually transmitted HIV-1 variants isolated within the first 2 months after seroconversion were generally sensitive to 2F5, moderately resistant to 4E10 and b12, and initially resistant but later more sensitive to 2G12 neutralization. In the four homosexual transmission couples, MAb neutralization sensitivity of HIV in recipients did not correlate with the MAb neutralization sensitivity of HIV from their source partners, whereas the neutralization sensitivity of donor and recipient viruses involved in parenteral transmission was more similar. For a fraction (11%) of the HIV-1 variants analyzed here, neutralization by 2G12 could not be predicted by the presence of N-linked glycosylation sites previously described to be involved in 2G12 binding. Resistance to 2F5 and 4E10 neutralization did also not correlate with mutations in the respective core epitopes. Overall, we observed that the neutralization resistance of recently transmitted subtype B HIV-1 variants was relatively high. Although 8 of 10 patients had viruses that were sensitive to neutralization by at least one of the four broadly neutralizing antibodies studied, 4 of 10 patients harbored at least one virus variant that seemed resistant to all four antibodies. Our results suggest that vaccine antigens that only elicit antibodies equivalent to b12, 2G12, 2F5, and 4E10 may not be sufficient to protect against all contemporary HIV-1 variants and that additional cross-neutralizing specificities need to be sought.

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The C3-V4 Region Is a Major Target of Autologous Neutralizing Antibodies in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype C Infection

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.02187-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 82 (4) ◽

pp. 1860-1869 ◽

Cited By ~ 118

Author(s):

Penny L. Moore ◽

Elin S. Gray ◽

Isaac A. Choge ◽

Nthabeleng Ranchobe ◽

Koleka Mlisana ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Subtype C ◽

Variable Regions ◽

Neutralizing Capacity ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The early autologous neutralizing antibody response in human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) subtype C infections is often characterized by high titers, but the response is type specific with little to no cross-neutralizing activity. The specificities of these early neutralizing antibodies are not known; however, the type specificity suggests that they may target the variable regions of the envelope. Here, we show that cross-reactive anti-V3 antibodies developed within 3 to 12 weeks in six individuals but did not mediate autologous neutralization. Using a series of chimeric viruses, we found that antibodies directed at the V1V2, V4, and V5 regions contributed to autologous neutralization in some individuals, with V1V2 playing a more substantial role. However, these antibodies did not account for the total neutralizing capacity of these sera against the early autologous virus. Antibodies directed against the C3-V4 region were involved in autologous neutralization in all four sera studied. In two sera, transfer of the C3-V4 region rendered the chimera as sensitive to antibody neutralization as the parental virus. Although the C3 region, which contains the highly variable α2-helix was not a direct target in most cases, it contributed to the formation of neutralization epitopes as substitution of this region resulted in neutralization resistance. These data suggest that the C3 and V4 regions combine to form important structural motifs and that epitopes in this region are major targets of the early autologous neutralizing response in HIV-1 subtype C infection.

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Use of Coreceptors Other Than CCR5 by Non-Syncytium-Inducing Adult and Pediatric Isolates of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Is Rare In Vitro

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.72.11.9337-9344.1998 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 72 (11) ◽

pp. 9337-9344 ◽

Cited By ~ 106

Author(s):

Yi-jun Zhang ◽

Tatjana Dragic ◽

Yunzhen Cao ◽

Leondios Kostrikis ◽

Douglas S. Kwon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Viral Entry ◽

Infected Infant ◽

Subtype B ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT We have tested a panel of pediatric and adult human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) primary isolates for the ability to employ the following proteins as coreceptors during viral entry: CCR1, CCR2b, CCR3, CCR4, CCR5, CCR8, CXCR4, Bonzo, BOB, GPR1, V28, US28, and APJ. Most non-syncytium-inducing isolates could utilize only CCR5. All syncytium-inducing viruses used CXCR4, some also employed V28, and one (DH123) used CCR8 and APJ as well. A longitudinal series of HIV-1 subtype B isolates from an infected infant and its mother utilized Bonzo efficiently, as well as CCR5. The maternal isolates, which were syncytium inducing, also used CXCR4, CCR8, V28, and APJ.

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Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Acute Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Subtype C Infection

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.00239-07 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 81 (12) ◽

pp. 6187-6196 ◽

Cited By ~ 209

Author(s):

E. S. Gray ◽

P. L. Moore ◽

I. A. Choge ◽

J. M. Decker ◽

F. Bibollet-Ruche ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Antibody ◽

Antibody Responses ◽

Subtype C ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The study of the evolution and specificities of neutralizing antibodies during the course of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection may be important in the discovery of possible targets for vaccine design. In this study, we assessed the autologous and heterologous neutralization responses of 14 HIV-1 subtype C-infected individuals, using envelope clones obtained within the first 2 months postinfection. Our data show that potent but relatively strain-specific neutralizing antibodies develop within 3 to 12 months of HIV-1 infection. The magnitude of this response was associated with shorter V1-to-V5 envelope lengths and fewer glycosylation sites, particularly in the V1-V2 region. Anti-MPER antibodies were detected in 4 of 14 individuals within a year of infection, while antibodies to CD4-induced (CD4i) epitopes developed to high titers in 12 participants, in most cases before the development of autologous neutralizing antibodies. However, neither anti-MPER nor anti-CD4i antibody specificity conferred neutralization breadth. These data provide insights into the kinetics, potency, breadth, and epitope specificity of neutralizing antibody responses in acute HIV-1 subtype C infection.

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Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 (HIV-1) Diversity at Time of Infection Is Not Restricted to Certain Risk Groups or Specific HIV-1 Subtypes

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.78.13.7279-7283.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 78 (13) ◽

pp. 7279-7283 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Manish Sagar ◽

Erin Kirkegaard ◽

E. Michelle Long ◽

Connie Celum ◽

Susan Buchbinder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Risk Groups ◽

The United States ◽

Viral Envelope ◽

Subtype B ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT African women frequently acquire several genetically distinct human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) variants from a heterosexual partner, whereas the acquisition of multiple variants appears to be rare in men. To determine whether newly infected individuals in other risk groups acquire genetically diverse viruses, we examined the viral envelope sequences in plasma samples from 13 women and 4 men from the United States infected with subtype B viruses and 10 men from Kenya infected with non-subtype B viruses. HIV-1 envelope sequences differed by more than 2% in three U.S. women, one U.S. man, and one Kenyan man near the time of seroconversion. These findings suggest that early HIV-1 genetic diversity is not exclusive to women from Africa or to infection with any particular HIV-1 subtype.

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Induction of Primary Virus-Cross-Reactive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Neutralizing Antibodies in Small Animals by Using an Alphavirus-Derived In Vivo Expression System

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.77.5.3119-3130.2003 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 77 (5) ◽

pp. 3119-3130 ◽

Cited By ~ 40

Author(s):

Ming Dong ◽

Peng Fei Zhang ◽

Franziska Grieder ◽

James Lee ◽

Govindaraj Krishnamurthy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Neutralizing Activity ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Hiv 1 ◽

Primary Virus

ABSTRACT We have studied the induction of neutralizing antibodies by in vivo expression of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope by using a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus (VEE) replicon system with mice and rabbits. The HIV-1 envelope, clone R2, has broad sensitivity to cross-reactive neutralization and was obtained from a donor with broadly cross-reactive, primary virus-neutralizing antibodies (donor of reference serum, HIV-1-neutralizing serum 2 [HNS2]). It was expressed as gp160, as secreted gp140, and as gp160ΔCT with the cytoplasmic tail deleted. gp140 was expressed in vitro at a high level and was predominantly uncleaved oligomer. gp160ΔCT was released by cells in the form of membrane-bound vesicles. gp160ΔCT induced stronger neutralizing responses than the other forms. Use of a helper plasmid for replicon particle packaging, in which the VEE envelope gene comprised a wild-type rather than a host range-adapted sequence, also enhanced immunogenicity. Neutralizing activity fractionated with immunoglobulin G. This activity was cross-reactive among a panel of five nonhomologous primary clade B strains and a Chinese clade C strain and minimally reactive against a Chinese clade E (circulating recombinant form 1) strain. The comparative neutralization of these strains by immune mouse sera was similar to the relative neutralizing effects of HNS2, and responses induced in rabbits were similar to those induced in mice. Together, these results demonstrate that neutralizing antibody responses can be induced in mice within 2 to 3 months that are similar in potency and cross-reactivity to those found in the chronically infected, long-term nonprogressive donor of HNS2. These findings support the expectation that induction of highly cross-reactive HIV-1 primary virus-neutralizing activity by vaccination may be realized.

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Highly Stable Trimers Formed by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1 Envelope Glycoproteins Fused with the Trimeric Motif of T4 Bacteriophage Fibritin

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.76.9.4634-4642.2002 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 76 (9) ◽

pp. 4634-4642 ◽

Cited By ~ 222

Author(s):

Xinzhen Yang ◽

Juliette Lee ◽

Erin M. Mahony ◽

Peter D. Kwong ◽

Richard Wyatt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Human Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type ◽

Virus Type ◽

Envelope Glycoprotein ◽

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Envelope Glycoproteins ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

T4 Bacteriophage ◽

Hiv 1

ABSTRACT The envelope glycoproteins of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) function as a trimer composed of three gp120 exterior glycoproteins and three gp41 transmembrane proteins. Soluble gp140 glycoproteins composed of the uncleaved ectodomains of gp120 and gp41 form unstable, heterogeneous oligomers, but soluble gp140 trimers can be stabilized by fusion with a C-terminal, trimeric GCN4 motif (X. Yang et al., J. Virol. 74:5716-5725, 2000). To understand the influence of the C-terminal trimerization domain on the properties of soluble HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein trimers, uncleaved, soluble gp140 glycoproteins were stabilized by fusion with another trimeric motif derived from T4 bacteriophage fibritin. The fibritin construct was more stable to heat and reducing conditions than the GCN4 construct. Both GCN4- and fibritin-stabilized soluble gp140 glycoproteins exhibited patterns of neutralizing and nonneutralizing antibody binding expected for the functional envelope glycoprotein spike. Of note, two potently neutralizing antibodies, immunoglobulin G1b12 and 2G12, exhibited the greatest recognition of the stabilized, soluble trimers, relative to recognition of the gp120 monomer. The observed similarities between the GCN4 and fibritin constructs indicate that the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein ectodomains dictate many of the antigenic and structural features of these fusion proteins. The melting temperatures and ligand recognition properties of the GCN4- and fibritin-stabilized soluble gp140 glycoproteins suggest that these molecules assume conformations distinct from that of the fusion-active, six-helix bundle.

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